Method



T. M. WHALEN.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING STEEL INGOTS.

APPLICATION FILED EB. 28, m9.

1,319,500. Patented Oct.21,1919.

- 3mm wtoz THOMAS M. WHALEN, 0F ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHODAAND APPARATUS FOR FORMING STEELINGOTS.

Specification-ofietters Patent. Patented Oct. 21, 1919.

Application filed February 28, 1919. Serial no. 279,786.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS M- WHALEN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Erie, in'the county of Erieand State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements-inMethods and Apparatus for Forming Steel Ingots, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relatesto the method and apparatus for forming steelingots and consists 1n certainnnprovements therein as Wlll behereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the forming of steel ingots it is common to place the molten metal ina mold and permit it to cool in the mold. In the cooling of the ingotthere are certain faults. The purpose of this invention is to remove tosome extent, at least, such faults.

The apparatus is illustrated in' the accompanying drawings as followsThe view shows an elevation of the apparatus partly in section.

1 marks the shell f the 2 a cast iron cooling base. The shell at itsbase is flanged and a gasket 3 is arrangedbetween the flange and thebase. The shell is secured to the base by bolts l. A cover ring 5 ismounted on the top of the shell 1, the shell being flangedto receive thering and a gasket 6 is arranged between the ring and the flange. A cover7 rests on the ring 5 preferably seated with a tongue and groove joint8. The cover is secured with eye bolts 9 by means of which it may beclamped to the shell. A mold 10 is arranged in the vacuum case. The moldis provided with a removable bottom 11 and the ingot metal. 13 isindicated in the mold by dotted lines. A cooling coil 12 is ar-' rangedin the base 2 so that the heat may be taken from the metal 13 in themold i0 and dissipated through a-medium such as air or water beingcaused to flow through said cooling coil 12. r

A vacuum pump 14 is connected by a pipe 15 with the vacuum case. Thepipe 15 is provided with a valve 16 by which the communication with thecase may be closed. 7

A controlling valve 17 is arranged on the cover by means of which the.degreeof vacuum may be varied. in carrying: out my method the moltenmetal is poured into the mold in the usual manner, the mold having beenpreviously arranged in the vacuum case as shown. The cover is then isextended. an almost perfect insulation is provided the bottom.progressive and the top of the metal revacuum case, and

put inplace so that the .case is sealed and the air is exhausted fromthe case to a greater or less degree as desired.

The inclosure of the mold. within the case, thus forming what might betermed a dead air space, would in itself form to some extent aninsulation around the mold and consequently temper the -coong ac:

tion so'that a portion of the coolmp action at least would take placefrom the bottom. I

By exhausting, the air from the case the mold is more or less perfectlyinsulated depending on the de ree to which the vacuum With an exhaustionof the air around the mold and consequently the cooling takes placealmost, if not entirely, from Consequently the cooling is mainsmoltenfor a longer period and thus accommodates itself to the shrinkage.In this way the usual faults are largely, if not entirely, elnninated.

V Further'the exhaustion of the air makes the space in which the metalis placed prac V tically inert and, therefore, the deleterious chemicalchanges are obviated. This is particularly true with some alloys.

It may be desirable to provide the observation openings 18 in the case,these.

openings being sealed by some transparent material.

What I claim as new is: 1. The method of forming steel ingots whichconsists in placing molten steel in a mold; insulating-a portion'of themold;

and cooling the steel from that portion of the mold not insulated.

2. The method of forming steel ingots which consists in retarding byinsulation the cooling of a column of molten steel and cooling the samefrom the bottom of ,the

column.

3. The method of forming steel ingots its which consists in placing amold containing molten metal in a space insulated from thesurroundingair; and cooling the metal from the bottom. 7 i

h 4:. The method of forming steel ingots which consists in plac F mold;placing this mold in a space insulated bya partial vacuum from thesurrounding air; and cooling the metal progressively by dissipating theheat from one part of the metal.

5. The method of forming steel ingots.

molten steel in a which consists in placing molten metal in a mold;inclosing the mold in a space made more nearly inert than atmosphericair; and coolin the metal in said space.

6. fhe' method of forming steel ingots Which consists in placing moltenmetal in a mold; inclosing the mold in aspace made more nearly inertthan atmospheric air by the formation of a partial vacuum; and coolingthe metal in said space.

7. The method of forming steel ingots Which consists in placing moltensteel in a mold; inclosing the mold in a space; insulating the mold fromthe surrounding atmosphere; rendering the same more nearly inert thanatmospheric air; and cooling the steel from the bottom 8. In anapparatus for forming steel ingots, the combination of a mold; a vacuumcase in which the mold is placed; mean for exhausting the air from thecase; and means for cooling the' bottom of the mold.

9. In an apparatus for forming steel ingots, the con'lbination of amold; a vacuum case in which the mold is placed; means for exhaustingthe air from the case; means for cooling the bottom of the mold; andmeans for controlling the degree of vacuum.

10. In an apparatus for forming steel ingots, the combination of a mold;an insulating case in Which the mold is placed; and means for coolingthe loottom of the mold.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

THOMAS M. WHALEN.

